Scraper and polisher for internal combustion engines



s. B. SMITH 2,056,080

SCRAPER AND POLISHER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Sept. 29, 1936 Filed Aug- 7, 1934 19/7051 3. 57/7 ""IIII ATTO RN EYS Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES SCRAPER A'ND POLISHER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION'ENGINES Samuel B. Smith, Rocky River, Ohio Application August 7,

27 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for scraping the carbon deposits forming on pistons and in the cylinders of internal combustion engines and the like.

The formation of carbon deposits, on the top of the piston and in the'cylinder, causes a serious decrease in the operating eflicien'cy of an internal combustion engine, due to the absorption of heat by the carbon covered surface. Obviously, therefore, the operating efiiciency of an internal combustion engine could be appreciably increased, if means were provided for scraping the carbon deposits from the interior surfaces of a cylinder and the top of the piston, sothat a smooth, polished surface was provided'which would reflect rather than absorb the heat.

In air cooled or other high temperature engines, the pistons frequently melt out on account of the high temperature from absorption of heat which could be avoided if the heat were reflected instead of absorbed.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide new and novel means for scraping and polishing the interior walls of a cylinder and the top of a piston, in an internal combustion engine, and to actuate such scraping means by means operating within the cylinder.

Another object is to provide means for scraping carbon deposits from the interior of a cylinder having a sleeve operating therein, andv especially to scrape and polish the cylinder wall between the top of the sleeve and the head of the cylinder.

Another object is to provide means, for scraping the carbon deposits from the interior of a cylinder, which are actuated by the action of a sleeve valve and therefore are positive and efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a scraper with sufficient surface in contact with the wall to transfer to the contacting metal the heat absorbed by the surface exposed to the gases, so that its temperature will not be high enough to cause pre-ignition or detonation.

Another object is to provide a piston scraper to which movement is imparted intermittently and in one direction only, the same taking place only during the lower half of the travel of the piston. Also, an object is to provide means for preventing the scraper from moving back during the idling period.

Still another object is to provide a simple, durable and efiicient'piston scrapen'which can be installed in conventional engine constructions with a minimum amount of work and at a rela- 1934, Serial No. 738,840

tively low cost, and to generally improve upon piston scrapers.

These and other objects will appear during the course 'of the following description.

' In the drawing, forming a part of this application:

Fig. 1 is a broken vertical sectional view through the top of a cylinder showing my scraper means installed therein, the same being taken on the line l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; s

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; while Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the piston scraper and sleeve.

In the drawing the numeral It] indicates a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, having a rotating sleeve valve Illa, provided at its top with two integrally formed lugs lllb, which are adapted to scrape carbon deposits forming on the inside cylinder wall between the top of the sleeve'lllaand the cylinder head 9. A piston ll, reciprocating within the sleeve Illa, carries the usual piston rings l2, and is provided centrally with a depending portion l3, having a longitudinal bore l4 shouldered at l5, where adjusting shim 20 is fitted. A connecting-rod 16, mounted on a piston-pin I1, is adapted to be connected to, and actuated by a crank-shaft not shown herein.

. The means for scraping the top of the piston H, for keeping it free of carbon deposits, comprise a piston-scraper I8, having two arms I9, adapted to scrape the top of the piston II, which are formed integrally with a central circular shank 2|, fitted into the bore M of the depending portion l3 of the piston II, and provided with a reduced end portion which is threaded externally at 22. "Drilled oil holes 23 are provided in the depending portion 13 of the piston 12. to permit oil to lubricate the shank 2| in the bore M of the piston ll. As shown in the drawing, the arms IQ of the piston-scraper l8 are flat on their bottom surfaces which are in contact with the top of the piston l l, are curved on their upper surfaces, and taper away in thickness from the shank H to the ends thereof. For certain uses it may be advantageous to remove a portion of A the contacting metal of the scraper arms l9, to 50 facilitate the scraping action, and such construction is within the scope of my invention.

s It will be n'otedthat the flat surface givesthe greatest'co'ntact for the disposal of heat,.thereby preventing detonation or pr'e ignitionfrom hot spots within the cylinder. This construction also provides that the heat within the cylinder will be absorbed by the curved surface of the scraper, and the fiat surface being in contact with the piston or cylinder wall, which has a lower tem perature, on account of the heat being reflected by the piston, instead of being absorbed by it, will impart or transfer the heat to the piston, thus making the exposed surface of the scraper hotter than the contact surface, 'causing it to warp or spring down at the end, as well as in the middle, thus making a good contact throughout the length of the scraper arms. 5 It will be noticed, that thepiston scraper l8 has two arms [9 which balance and cause the pressure, from within the cylinder ID, to press down equally throughout their length, and therefore do not have to be held inposition by the alignment of the bearing, bit-"clearance of the bearing in which they rotate, but are kept in contact by thethrust bearing, which can be easily"adjustedby'changing the "thickness of the shim 2U. The means 'for driving the piston-scraper l8 comprise an operating arm 24, secured to the connecting rod l'6by means'of a set-screw '25, provided with a spring 26, to keep the operating arm zrproperiy. spaced. "A gear-sector 21, mounted on thetop'of'the operating arm 24, drivesa cooperating gearesector 28, mounted on a collar 29, screw threaddly mounted around the threaded portionzz time shank 2]. It will be apparent, that the rocking movement imparted tothe' gear sector 21, on the operating arm 24, by the rocking movement of the connectingrod l3, might likewise impart arocking movement to the cooperating gear-sector 28 secured to the collar 29, and thusmight impart a contin'u'ous' oscillating movement to the scraper arms l9, if special means were not provided'to prevent this. V

Ithas been founddesirous to impart an intermittent, rotating movement to the scraper arms 59, inorder, that/they will be actuated only during the lowerhali of the travel of the piston H, andwill be inactive or idle during the upper half of thepiston travel. The foregoing is accomplishedby means of a double clutch, of which the collar-.29 forms a part. 7

It wil-l;be noticed,that the top of. the collar 29 rests against the shoulder I5 in the bore I4.

of the depending portion l3 of. the piston II. This construction forms a center bearing means, and prevents the warping of the scraper arms Iii-away from the top of the piston H, which otherwise might occur, on account of the high temperatures to which the scraper arms 19 are subjected. "The lower clutch, as shown in section in Fig. 3, comprises cut-out portions 3| in the collar 29, having inner edgeportions 32 receiving rollers 33 pressed away from the inner edges 32 by springs 34; When the connecting-rod l6, through the operating arm 24 and gear-sector 21 'mounted thereon, moves the cooperating gear-sector 28 'on the collar 29 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, it draws the'rollers33 away'f rom the inner edge portions 32 and 'wedges them between the inner surface of the scraper moves the scraper arms l9 around on the top of the piston ll.

When, however, the gear-sector 28 is rotated in a clockwise direction by the rocking movement of the connecting-rod I6, the rollers 33 are drawn towards the inner edges 32, against the action of the springs 34 and do not engage the inner surface of the collar 29, and thus permit the gear-sector 28 to move around the collar 29 without drivingit.

A second clutch mounted above the lower clutch is provided in order to prevent movement of the piston-scraper [8 during its idling period, and is indicated by the numeral 35, and is provided with rollers 36 bearing against the bore I4 in the depending portion l3 of the piston H. This-second clutch 35 is of a construction similar to the lower clutch with the exception that it is not provided with a gear-sector. It operates in an obvious manner in the bore I4 to prevent I8 from moving back during its idlingpe'ricd.

The actuation of the piston scraper I8, asprevio'usly eiplained, occurs only during the lower half of the travel of. the piston, in order that the high, pressure and intense heat generated during the compression (and ignition strokes may not interfere with' 'the operations of the piston scraper f8.

The means for scraping carbon deposits from the inner 'sur'faceofthe cylinder-head 9, comprise a scraper 38,'having two arms 39, formed integrally with a central circular shank 4|, extending through a circular aperture 42 .in the cylinder head 9, and provided with a nut 43 around its't'op end. The scraper arms 39 are of a construction similar to'the arms IQ of the piston scraper'l8, with the" exception that they are slightly'longerthan the latter arms, as they extend to the cylinder wall I0. As shown in Fig. 2, rotation of thesleeve flla will cause the sleeve lugs 10b to press against the scraper arms 39 and to thus rotate them around the circular shank 41, to scrape'carbon depositsfrom the inner sur face of the cylinder head 9.

The lugs lOb, formed at the top of the sleeve l'fl'a, operate to'scrape the carbon deposits form ing on the inside cylinder wall between the top of the sleeve Illa and the cylinder-head 9. It is contemplated that special scraping edges may be metal of the lugs, are within the contemplated scope of 'my'invntion.

' Iathererore," will be apparent to those skilled in the" art that my invention may be variously changed,,used or modified without departing from the spirit'o f my-in'vention or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and that the embodiment of my inventionjherein' disclosed is iilustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

Whatis claimed is: h 1. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising a scraper for scraping the top of the piston, and'means for actuating thescraper intermittently and in one direction only.

I 2. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising ascraper for scraping the top of tl'ie piston, means 'for actuating the scraper intermittently and in one direction only, and means'for' ,pr'eve'ntingmovement of the scraper during its idlingperiod. v

3. Apistonscraper for an internal combustion aoseoso 3 engine, comprisinga scraperfor scraping the top of the piston, a one-way clutch operatively connected to the scraper, means for transmitting the rockingrnovement of the connecting-rod to the clutch for driving thescraper intermittently and in one direction, and means for preventing movement of the scraper during itsidling period.

4. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising a scraper for scraping the top of the piston, a one-wayclutch operatively connected to the scraper, means for transmitting the rocking movement of the connecting-rod to the clutch for driving the scraper intermittently and in one direction, and a secondone-way clutch operatively connected to the scraper for preventing movement of thescraper during its idling period.

5. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising means for scraping the top of the piston, an operating arm connected to the connecting-rod, a gear-sector mounted on the arm, a one-way clutch operatively connected to the scraping means for intermittently moving the scraper means in one direction, and a gear-sector secured to the clutch and adapted to be driven by the gear-sector on the operating arm.

6. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising means for scraping the top of the piston, and means for actuating the scraping means by the movement of the connecting-rod, said actuating means being operative to actuate the piston scraper only during the lower half of the travel of the piston.

'7. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising arms rotatably mounted around a central pivot on the top of the piston, and driving means operatively connected to the connecting-rod for rotating the arms by the rocking movement of the connecting-rod, said driving means being operative to drive the piston scraper only during the lower half of the travel of the piston.

8. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising means for scraping the top of the piston, means for actuating the scraping means by the movement of the connecting-rod, said actuating means being operative to actuate the piston scraper only during the lower half of the travel of the piston, and means for preventing actuation of the piston scraper during the upper half of the travel of the piston.

9. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising arms rotatably mounted around a central pivot on the top of the piston, driving means operatively connected to the connecting-rod for rotating the arms by the rocking movement of the connecting-rod, said driving means being operative to drive the piston scraper only during the lower half of the travel of the piston, and means for preventing movement of the piston driving means during the upper half of the travel of the piston.

10. In a device of the character described, a piston having a central depending portion provided with a longitudinal bore, a piston scraper comprising arms adapted to scrape the top of the piston and terminating in a shank fitting into the bore in the depending portion, and means for rotating the shank of the scraper from the rocking movement of the connecting-rod for rotating the scraper arms on the top of the piston.

11. In a device of the character described, a piston having a central depending portion provided with a longitudinal bore, a piston scraper comprising arms adapted to scrape the top of the piston and terminating in a shank fitting into the bore in the depending portion, and

means for rotating thepiston scraper from the rocking movement of the connecting-rod, .said means being operative to rotate the scraper only during the lower portion of the travel of the p 0n-- I 112. A piston scraper, comprising arms having flat surfaces-in contact with thepistonand curved surfaces exposed to the gases, andmeans for. actuating said arms.

13. A piston scraper, comprising arms having fiat surfaces in contact .withthe piston and curved surfacesexposed to the gases, and means for actuating saidarms during the lowerhalf of the travel of the piston. 5 4 lfl A piston scraper, comprising arms having fiat surfaces in contact with the piston and curved surfaces exposed to the gases, means for actuating said arms only during the lower half of the travel of the piston, and means for preventing movement of the arms during the upper half of the travel of the piston.

15. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising arms movable on the top of a piston, said arms having curved upper surfaces whose radii in cross section are approximately one-half the width of the arms, and means for moving the arms on the piston.

16. A piston scraper for an internal combustion engine, comprising arms movable on the top of a piston, said arms having curved upper surfaces whose radii are approximately one-half the width of the arms, and having flat surfaces in contact with the piston, and means for moving the arms on the piston.

17. A device for scraping a cylinder wall of an internal combustion engine, comprising arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall, said arms having curved upper surfaces whose radii are approximately one-half the width of the arms, and means for actuating the arms on the wall.

18. A device for scraping a cylinder wall of an internal combustion engine, comprising arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall, said arms having curved upper surfaces whose radii are approximately one-half the width of the arms, and having flat surfaces in contact with the piston, and means for moving the arms on the wall.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, a rotating sleeve valve in the cylinder, and arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall and operatively connected with the sleeve to cause the rotation of the sleeve to move the arms on the wall.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, a rotating sleeve valve in the cylinder, arms mounted on a rotatable shank in the cylinder wall, and connections between the sleeve and the arms to cause the rotation of the sleeve to move the arms on the wall and around on the shank.

21. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, a rotating sleeve valve in the cylinder, and arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall mounted on a rotatable shank in the sleeve wall and operatively connected with the sleeve to cause the rotation of the sleeve to rotate the arms on the cylinder wall.

22. In a device of the character described, the combination of a cylinder, a rotating sleeve valve in the cylinder, and arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall, said arms having curved outer surfaces whose radii are approximately one-half the width of the arms and being operatively conneetedwith the sleeve to-cause the rotdtionof the sleeve-to-move-the arms on the wall.

23. In a device of the 'characterdescribed, the combination of a cylinder, a rotating sleeve valve in the cylinder, arms movable on the inner top cylinder wall, said arms having curved outer-surfaces whose radiiare approximately one-half the widthofthe arms, andfiat surfaces in contact with the piston and being operatively connected with the sleeve to cause the rotation of the sleeve to move the arms on the wall.

24. -In combination, a cylinder, a rotatable sleeve in the cylinder, and means operated by therotating sleeve for scraping carbon'deposits from the inside wall of the cylinder.

25. In combination, a cylinder, a rotatable sleeve in the cylinder, and lugs on the top of the sleeve bearing against the cylinder wall and adapted to scrape carbon-deposits from the cylinder-wall upon rotation of the sleeve.

26., In combination, a cylinder, a rotatable sleeve in the cylinder and lugs on the top of the sleeve'extending to'the cylinder head and bearing against the cylinder wall, for scraping the carbon deposits from the cylinder wall between the top of the sleeve and the cylinder head whenever the sleeve is rotated therein.

27. A scraper for a surface of an internal combustion engine, consisting of a member having a surface in Contact with the-engine surface, a shaft extended from near the center of the contact'surface at right angles to said contact surface, and a thrust bearing on the opposite end of the shaft from the member holding said contact surfaeestogether. V

SAMUEL B. SMITH. 

